BJORN

A number of varsity sports teams will be eliminated at the University of Rhode Island unless officials can increase revenues and decrease other expenses to meet an $800,000 budget cut.

The cut, ordered by the university administration in response to the state budget crisis, represents 10 percent of the athletics department’s operating budget of approximately $8 million. Other university departments also must cut 10 percent from their budgets.

Thorr Bjorn, director of athletics, said yesterday that he should know by April 15 “at the absolute latest” whether he will have to jettison any programs to meet the budget mandate. He did not sound optimistic.

“In order to reach that number it will be very difficult without sports cuts,” he said in an interview.

That possibility is circulating through the URI community, and Bjorn is receiving e-mails and calls from parents concerned about the future of their student-athletes.

“We’re looking at a number of scenarios to reduce our expenses by 10 percent or increase our revenues or a combination of both. We’re looking at early retirements and employee reduction. We’re looking into sports cuts. Nothing has been finalized yet,” he said.

One longtime athletics department official will be leaving. URI announced yesterday that Lauren Anderson, former track coach and current senior associate director of athletics, will retire in June after 31 years with the school.

“It’s something we don’t want to do and the president doesn’t want to do,” Bjorn said regarding cuts. “The university is going through budget issues because of the state situation.”

The State of Rhode Island is facing a $154-million deficit for the current fiscal year and a projected deficit of about $350 million for the fiscal year starting July 1. The state provides 14 percent of the university’s budget.

In fairness to coaches, athletes and families, Bjorn wants to resolve this situation sooner than later.

“We have to move as quickly as we can,” he said.

Bjorn would not disclose which sports might be cut, but this much is certain. Football, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s soccer will be spared, despite their cost. They are URI’s signature sports. Baseball is likely to survive because an anonymous donor has given $1 million to improve Bill Beck Field, and women’s rowing is probably safe because of Title IX considerations.

URI also sponsors men’s and women’s track, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, field hockey, softball, volleyball and men’s golf for a total of 19 sports.

Bjorn said he would consult a Title IX expert before making any cuts.

If any sport is sacrificed, Bjorn said, URI will not add women’s lacrosse in 2009, as announced in January, when women’s gymnastics was eliminated, effective the end of this season.

“When we get through this, whether it involves sports cuts or not, we’ll have to map a course so we can see where we want to be in five years,” he said.

Bjorn speculated that this is a sign of the times and many colleges may be going through a similar exercise.

Sports cuts were discussed three years ago, but President Robert L. Carothers decided at the last minute to spare the ax. This time is different.

“This is not taking dollars and reallocating. This is cost-cutting,” Bjorn said.

mszostak@projo.com